The ones I used to have were probably 1/2" rod (maybe a bit smaller, but not much), they'd curl the top into a little circle, then bend the bottom at a right angle and flatten it out and shape it so it's a bit pointy at the end but not sharp. That's the kind I always had as a kid then had exact same kind later but where it is now who knows, things get "lost" in divorces, heck, the whole papa bear wood stove got "lost". Compared to using a stick, this little one works great, but, I agree it's not ideal - you have stated its shortcomings exactly.
So if you have a forge or way to head up the rod and bend it you are all set. The ones I looked at that were more like what I remember were outrageous price, so, for the price, this is a lot better than nothing, but you're totally right it's not what I'd get in the ideal world. I just don't have but rare need for forge and tools so I never got the stuff, plus then it's taking up shop space all the time so just not worth it.
What I want to do long term is run the gas line and water out there and put in an actual gas furnace with a/c unit, and then it can have a humidifier as well because in the winter it can get horribly dry, more so than I like it for woodworking (or comfort). In summer a/c dehumidifies. Anyway, that's a pretty penny to set it up right even if you do some of it. My shop is 24x32 with open ceiling, which I kind of like, while realizing it's totally not efficient. The little Reginald 101 stove I have puts out maybe 50k BTU - maybe more - if it's running flat out, which means feeding a fair amount of wood, and often you're doing something and ignore it... it's really undersized for the space, 100k BTU would be about right. Wood stoves are cozy but I'd like something where I could have it on a timed thermostat and have it all warmed up in the morning instead of spending time messing with the stove. They say heating with wood heats you 7 times. Especially, if you cut it, load it, haul it, and even if not, you still have to stack it, then get it and bring it in and load it, then you have to take out the ashes. I think one of those old New England poets said "every man looks on his wood pile with affection"; there's no doubt if you heat with wood you like seeing a goodly amount of stacked dry wood ready for the winter.
I'm happy at this point to just have a shop, I worked on my vehicles without one for decades so I really appreciate it even if it's not all I'd like yet.
I might get a decent small anvil, when I make tuning pins I use ISO nails and flatten the tops, but you don't have to heat them for that, it's soft enough you can just shape them with a good steel mallet. I've done it without the anvil, but it makes everything harder when you don't have a nice smooth surface shaped the right way. The little anvils on big vises aren't good, and rail isn't really good. It has to be moounted, I think, so it doesn't move at all. I've seen huge ones mounted on a big piece of tree trunk, I don't need that, but I do need something, I need something like this: they are expensive
Cliff Carroll Anvil 35 lb (centaurforge.com)
Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and 
